The Lasting Impact: Health and Environmental Consequences
Resident Health
While the residents of Flint quickly noticed the grime state of the water, the health consequences continue to be revealed as time progresses. Fatal damage has already taken place, and it is noted that for as many deaths that have been accounted for, we will never truly know all the names of those who lost their lives due to the Flint water crisis. Some may argue that the effect of death is the worst to come from this crisis, but nearly 30,000 schoolchildren were exposed to this lead-contaminated water, and it has had extremely upsetting and far-reaching health consequences. The effects of this exposure have now factored into every aspect of children's lives, especially their educational experiences, as low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells. It contributing to a rising demand for special education services and behavioral interventions, which has lead to spirling stress as the district’s struggles to cope with these growing demands further heighten the situation. According to Flint’s new superintendent, Derrick Lopez, 28 percent of students now have special education plans, double the state average, emphasizing the alarming need for additional help. However, despite the modest increase in education spending from the Michigan Legislature, lawmakers refused proposals for further funding specifically aimed at schools with high concentrations of special education students, leaving the district underfunded and struggling to meet the needs of its students.